Activists not so ‘gay’

19 January 2017 08:12 am - 59 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A number of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) and human rights activists were critical of the Cabinet of ministers’ refusal to decriminalize homosexuality.

One of the leading LGBTQ rights activists and Executive Director of the Equal Ground, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera said the decision was absurd.

“This move only portrays that the government would rather continue to discriminate a community based on their sexual orientation and to marginalize them than repealing a 134-year old archaic laws imposed by the British,” she said.

She urged the government to fight for the rights of the discriminated people and challenged if there is anyone who says that decriminalizing homosexuality is against Dhamma, to prove it.

“Why we should embrace western Christian laws and not accept peace, acceptance and tolerance practiced in Buddhism.

After all this is a Buddhist country not a Christian country,” she said. Former Human Rights Commissioner and Rights Activist Prathiba Mahanamahewa said, though it was rejected, the proposal submitted by the government to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing section 365 and 365A of the Penal Code was brave and strong.

He criticized the government of having no proper mechanism to spread awareness of the issue and its lack of backing to commit to the issue.

“Though a proposal had been made, there is no one to take responsibility of the proposal. This attempt is not to legalise gay marriages or as such, it’s simply about decriminalizing homosexuality. The government had clearly failed to send the message across,” he said.

He said the Sri Lankan LGBTQ community was inactive compared with that of in India and Bangladesh and said even lawmakers were also silent about the issue.

“If there are any lawmakers who are gay or lesbian, they are not raising any voice for their rights. They are not even admitting to anything.

These people are simply worried about the next election and their voters’ base. They would rather have a larger voter base than fighting for human rights,” he said.

He said cultural and social resistance could arise when repealing the penal code but it could be averted with awareness. “The people should have a right to select their own partner. This is a human right issue which has been psychologically and scientifically proved,” he said.

Meanwhile, rights activist Milinda Rajapaksha, who was with youth organizations in India when Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in 2009, said rights organizations in Sri Lanka should take the issue to the court following India.

“In India, it was not the government which intervened into the matter. It was civil societies and rights activists sought legal protection for human rights and they won. It’s time we should do the same,” he said.

Project Officer of Equal Ground Thushara Manoj said the words ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ should be included in Constitution foremost before decriminalizing homosexuality. “Once we have these words, we can gradually decriminalize.

Decriminalizing homosexuality is not something we can do right away and Sri Lankan Gay Community is not asking for marriage rights. They simply want equal human rights and recognition,” he said. He said it was wrong and unwise for the government to list GSP+ as causality to decriminalize homosexuality. Another activist Hans Billimoria simply said its time that we moved away from the dark ages. “It’s 2017, not 1800s anymore,” he said. (By Lahiru Pothmulla)

Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
Govt. would rather continue to discriminate against a community based on their sexual orientation than repealing British laws

Prathiba Mahanama-hewa
Though rejected, the proposal submitted by Govt. to repeal sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code was brave and strong

Hans Billimoria
It’s time that we moved away from the dark ages. “It’s 2017, not 1800s anymore

Milinda Rajapaksha
In India, it was not the govt. but was the rights activists who sought legal protection for human rights and won

Thushara Manoj
The words ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ should be included in Constitution foremost before decriminalizing homosexuality

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Comments - 59

Amith Samarasinghe Thursday, 19 January 2017 03:13 PM

We are the normal people in this country. We have a right to say that we don't want our children to see these abnormal stuff in public. Do whatever you want in your own space.

godless Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:38 PM

Lots of superstitious people commenting.

Anjula Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:44 PM

Giving rights to gay peoples to have same rights like others should be agreed but legalizing a gay marriage is disgusting proposal which is proposed by key minister. Really i feel shame on this and need to think twice why i supported this party to come back to the power.

Jagath Leanage Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:47 PM

Rather than legalizing HOMOSEXUALITY it will be good thing to legalize PROSTITUTION . Lot of unwanted things will stopped with it.

Dharshana Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:55 PM

For all the talk about how we reject western values by certain sections of the Nationalists in this country, they cannot see the daft logic of their arguments against the decriminilization of homosexuals and same-sex marriage. Sri Lanka is right up there with the sheer amount of bigoted, pious religious hypocris. This is not simply a Sinhala-buddhist problem but includes the other two main abrahamic religions in this country. There are plenty of real immoral and evil sexual acts and abuse that take place in this country such as rape, intimate partner violence and pedophilia and there aren't any dedicated campaigs by these so called 'moral majority' .I guess for some of these religious leaders these issues they hit a bit too close to their respective institutions. It is shameful, we can't even talk about dignity and basic human rights for our queer brothers and sisters, let alone same-sex marriage. p.s It is documented with strong evidence there are gay animals.

Sonali Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:13 PM

Pradeep and Asoka just displayed their ignorance in public. I feel more sorry for the ilks of their kind than for the gays and lesbians. If the general public have nothing good to say about this issue then please refrain from posting ignorant comments.

concerned human Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:29 PM

one does not select gender, religion, race, cast, color of the skin when one is born. its all been given by others (parents, society etc). so who am i to judge one's sex appeal. anyway this proposal is not for legalizing same sex marriage, but to decriminalize homosexuality; which has a broad difference between them. but imo the LGBTQ Ex Director should not drag religion in to this discussion. and i don't think Sri Lankans who are against homosexuality, base their judgement on the religion. i think they look from the social customs point of view.(at least most of them)

Hella Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:33 PM

Who is "creator Almighty"? And why do Primates have sex with same gender?

Lal Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:34 PM

Any psychiatrist would say that sexual orientation CANNOT be changed

Manoj Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:47 PM

As buddhists we do not believe on Almighty god and no room for any kind of discrimination in Theravada buddhism, therefore it was accepted by largest buddhist countries such as Thailand, Taiwan and Cambodia. Entire legal system of the country had been changed at the colonial era and the time has come to practice real values of the buddhism.

Manoj Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:55 PM

As per the world health organisation, being gay is not a disease or mental disorder.Therefore no medical treatments for that. Come out from the stone age.

Sincere Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:56 PM

3rd Precept of the Pansil prohibits any sexual relationship outside the marriage between a woman and a man. Do not insult Buddhist principles.

Sincere Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:58 PM

We do have a gender identity - Male and Female, Man and Woman, Boy and Girl. Thats all.

Vernon Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:58 PM

'Normal' is a relative term. What is normal for one can be abnormal for other. Some love Durians while some hate it. If a person is born with homosexual tendencies it is then natural. This proposal was for sexual orientation and not about marriage.

Chatura Thursday, 19 January 2017 02:59 PM

To the idiot who says animals dont practice homosexyality I ask you to prove it Scientific evidence show some animals are indeed homosexual. And God Almightly Is that scientific in your head If so prove he exists. via DM Android App

bbod Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:37 PM

Then why did your creator create gays?

Dtox Thursday, 19 January 2017 03:31 PM

Wow. Reading the first two comments on this article shows how uneducated and stupid some people can be.

Lord Thursday, 19 January 2017 05:08 PM

The Lord almighty also didn't give the government to rule us humans aswell but yet we still let them rule us around like animals and we don't fight about that.But yet if someone lgbtq it's their right we the hell is the goverment to judge Up on someone's sex. Either way sri.lanka isn't heaven that everyone is following the.rules of the bible or Buddhist. So grow up and let people live how they want to if.they are sinning they will get there punishment from who.is.above of us. Right now.it's all about, peace love and humanity. And straight people can lovego why can't gay people. We alla human and ONLY GOD JUDGE US.

Your uncle Thursday, 19 January 2017 05:09 PM

You should educate yourself before you throw your so called facts around. Animals have known to show homosexual behaviour. It is not unnatural but actually a natural occurrence. And it is not a disease or sickness.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior

CitizenBrownie Thursday, 19 January 2017 05:13 PM

Ours is a Buddhist country blessed by other religions to co-exist peacefully. All this because our government has no backbone to negotiate on behalf of the people and say no to Western trash. Our country is not dumping ground for Western trash.

Mohamed Thursday, 19 January 2017 05:20 PM

I have never heard or seen in jungle lesbian or gay animals. Human law is going beyond the jungle law. via DM Android App

Nuvan Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:23 PM

No one choose to become gay. It is something they have been born with. About 10 out of every 100 men are said to be gay. But that proportion never comes out as who they are for the fear of being humiliated. In Sri Lanka most men who are gay are compelled to marry a girl leading up to a life so difficult for both of them, who may otherwise be happy if they are allowed to marry whoever they feel can be happily married to. Perhaps your child may be gay and do you still stick to your principles and force him to be the person who you want him to be no matter what he really want in life?

Chatura Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:38 PM

I don't want the children to ANY sex stuff in public, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual.

Skyscraperlk Friday, 20 January 2017 08:26 AM

OK. You adapt to everything in the 21st century, like phones, clean water, to TVs, to laptops but you cannot adapt to a man marrying a man. The man is not marrying you! It won't even affect you! And how do gay people abuse others! Molestors are not gay, they're sexually frustrated women don't like them! And it's a sick thing to call it a sickness. That has been debunked by a myriad of scientists. You believe scientists when talking about medicine, climate change. WHY CANT YOU BELIEVE THIS? What if your son is gay? Will you kill him?! Or throw him into jail?! We think backwards so we stay backwards!

Presy Friday, 20 January 2017 10:41 AM

""Mind Voice of the Muslim Community""Enforce Sharia Law In SL and execute all Homosexuals !!!

Sue Friday, 20 January 2017 10:49 AM

There's still hope for our country with so many commenting in favor of LGBT. Its not for us to judge, no matter what religion we belong to. Its better to have compassion than call others abnormal and evil.

RMC Friday, 20 January 2017 01:00 PM

It will actually be quite amusing - considering the number of gay muslims!If the Muslims require Sharia law - maybe Saudi or a Sharia controlled country would be happy to accept them.

raheema vilcassim Friday, 20 January 2017 02:31 PM

Same sex (gay) activities are not something new, these types of people lived all over the world from time immemorial. A decade or two back although people knew this they avoided this subject because of the social stigma and shame. No gays openly engaged in sex in front of others and nor normal people too did same. So they are not criminalized. Gay people have all the rights and protection like other citizens of this country so why not keep their activities secret without polluting the good society. If gay rights are legalized, then like in US and other western countries gay clubs, gay marriage, gay porno, gay films, gay parties etc. etc. will crop up in Sri Lanka thus increasing the present lesser than 0.5% these sick gays to dangerous level. God created everything in pairs (male and female) thus to procreate and enjoy what was created for them. These satanic gay rights activist are following their satanic gay masters in the west.

pradeep Friday, 20 January 2017 03:20 PM

Dear all, the views expressed in these columns are independent views and a brain storm session where every civil right group put forward his/her views with a pure goodwill intention and not cause any ill feelings. Our intentions are purely to safeguard our culture and traditions which are more than 2500 years old and these values should be passed to our siblings and future generation. As trustees, we have our rights to express our views. Gay and Lesbians culture is a curse as these so called promoters of these vulgar, despicable culture is the handy work of the shaytan which always very alluring. Keep that in mind.and not to obstruct the procreation process. This gay/lesbian culture will not do well and all right thinking people will pour their anger and displeasure at these nauseating evil despicable culture. Remember every human is created with a coccyx and a unique finger/toe impression, Our final return is to Him Who Created and everyone shall get their due rewards.

Robert Egeter Sunday, 22 January 2017 04:06 PM

The refusal of the SL Gov't to delete laws that criminalise homosexuality reminds me of my great-grandfather, who was convinced that water burns, as does fire. Why is this refusal? Is it because Gov't prefers things to stay as the former colonisers wanted? That would be a lack of vision and of intelligence. Is it because of religious reasons? SL is a country with different religions, all to be respected - but the respect for a minority (Christians) cannot legally justify discrimination of another minority. Finally, whoever seriously reads the many sayings of our Lord the Buddha will not find any refusal or accepting of homosexuality. So, where lies the problem?

Punch Banda Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:34 AM

This is the only chance to get this demilitarized,.....with so many preferential votes available in this parliament......

BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 19 January 2017 08:56 AM

Majority of Sri Lankans are basically stupid, they cannot think beyond their noses. Their elected leaders are also of the same caliber and simply have not done anything effective to this country since independence other than doing primitive subjects like racism and religious intolerance. Even in a thousand years a Sri Lankan will not get it into his brains that their is scientific proof that a third gender exists and they need to be recognized and provided with due rights.

Jude Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:07 AM

Hey SL Not ready!! Yet !!!??

Jude Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:15 AM

After almost three decades living in North America!!! I'd few friends and colleagues of mine who are gay!!! The gay thing is a lifestyle !!! And it works For them!!!! There's absolutely no social stigma associated with that Lifestyle here!!!! However, in SL, well the jury is out there!!!!??

Leel Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:17 AM

Homosexuality is some sort of sickness society should treat them as abnormal sick people, society should treat them compasanately and government should protect them from abusing by others.

ceylon Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:16 AM

all humans have same rights.it is the nature decide. via DM Android App

Jude Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:26 AM

hey no one should discriminate gay people!!. however in SL there's a social stigma attached to it.!! So it will take a long time beforet SL people to adjust for gay people and the gay lifestyle!!??

Jude Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:31 AM

Being gay is a lifestyle!!! Period!!!

Thanos Thursday, 19 January 2017 09:50 AM

Buddhism and many eastern philosophies/religions have no issue with homosexuality. Any politician saying homosexuality is against Buddhism is nuts. Anti-homosexual attitude in Asia and Africa came with European colonization.

RadRav Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:00 AM

Criminalize Homophobia!

Bud in Oz Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:10 AM

Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and is accepted in many countries in the world. It is sad to see such a hatred view on this issue in a predominantly Buddhist society like Sri Lanka.

raj Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:12 AM

The Buddha never endorsed homosexuality and the Bible calls it an abomination and those who practice it will not go to heaven..stop twisting religion to suit your lifestyle

Dinesh Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:14 AM

Why on earth would any person choose to be gay, go through all the stress, discrimination, hate and even threat of violence and death? The issue this causes is gay people are forced to marry, create broken homes, affect the next generation and cause a whole plethora of social issues. You cannot make a gay person straight just like you cannot make a black person white. You can try all you want but it is what it is. And to consider such a section of our community as criminals for something they cannot control is a crime every Sri Lankan should be held accountable for.Also If you are making comments please have the decency to educate yourself, about the topic before making disparaging and hurtful comments.

Jagath Leanage Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:15 AM

If anybody wanted homosexuality they can be with it . But should not be legalized . Before legalizing homosexuality , it is wise to legalize PROSTITUTION .

usaguy Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:29 AM

we dont have solid anti discrimination laws to begin with. the last time govt brought a bill through Buddhist monks opposed. and you expect the world to help you via DM Android App

mm Thursday, 19 January 2017 08:36 AM

why the drama just live as you are living now. via DM iOS App

Roman Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:37 AM

Oh please! we got 99 problems and this certainly ain't one of them!

DillonDP Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:38 AM

Well we dont want decriminalize someones right but accept openly corruption...

Iran Thursday, 19 January 2017 10:52 AM

Could this Queer mean sex with parents, own kids, siblings, small kids or animals as well.Could there be people with such hormonal changes in their brain or born with it as they explain gay or transgender or whatever etc

Sharon Thursday, 19 January 2017 11:28 AM

Definitely they should NOT be discriminated. All are humans. Legalizing Gay marriages is something different and that should not be encouraged because it is not so healthy for the existence of mankind...

pradeep Thursday, 19 January 2017 11:41 AM

Our society cannot accept unnatural evil acts to be legalized. Same sex marriage is inhuman and degrading the basic nature of humans. Animals do not practice this shameful evil culture which will destroy the human values and bring about deadliest disease and the curse of the Creator Almighty. It is not Christian Law nor buddhism law but it is the law of the Creator Almighty. Let us be rightly guided.

Asoka Thursday, 19 January 2017 11:41 AM

Why don't you people can't change your desires and be normal...without being a curse to the society? It is a sickness and there are so many psychiatrists in the country. Go visit them. Your problems will be solved.

Derrick Arnolda Thursday, 19 January 2017 12:25 PM

No one is killing you for being gay. So be yourselves but don't ask for too much. We have seen the way how lesbians and gay people behave in public in Western countries.

FSOCIETY Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:04 PM

More animals practice this "shameful evil culture" than your ignorance can handle. Sri Lankan society needs to move forward, not just in this aspect but many others. The logic portrayed by pradeep and asoka are the fundamental problem with Lankan citizens. We are too comfortable in our state and don't want to adapt to anything new, or we are reluctant to accommodate anything that might make us feel uncomfortable.

raj Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:19 PM

Stop twisting religion to justify your perverted lifestyle . Buddha never endorsed such a perversion the Bible is against it. So this will not be legalised here. Just because the white man wants to be perverts doesn't mean we have to copy them. Marriage is between man and woman only

Saman Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:22 PM

Gays should wear yellow hats so that we can shop them.

Shelly. Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:22 PM

Gay relationship only to get satisfied with sexual need.Nothing beyond. One doesnt have to marry only to satisfy sexual needs. via DM Android App

suda Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:24 PM

If your Almighty is so powerful ask him to Develop the country without these corrupted politician. You are just blind and believes in nothing you have seen

rMC Thursday, 19 January 2017 01:35 PM

Reading the two comments I am glad to see that ignorance combined with vast amounts of stupidity and arrogance are alive and well... this coupled with bigotry and hatred.. get off the newspapers - spend some time educating yourself - and hopefully the curse of ignorance that you carry might be lifted!!!

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Activists not so ‘gay’

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